Nephi dies. His brother Jacob takes over his writings. The Nephites become polygamists. Polygamy is condemned.
Sherem is killed by God for not believing Jacob about Jesus. Jacob gives his plates to his son Enos.
The Nephites and the Lamanites prepare for war.

1:1 For behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years had passed
away from the time that Lehi left
Jerusalem; wherefore, Nephi gave me, Jacob, a commandment concerning the small plates, upon which these things are engraven.

(1:1-4) Nephi gave me, Jacob, a commandment concerning the small plates.
Nephi is getting ready to die so he tells his little brother Jacob to write precious things down
on "the small plates" -- not "the other plates" that Nephi wrote stuff on for Christ's sake.

1:2 And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should write upon these plates a few of the things which I
consider to be most precious; that I should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history of this people which
are called the people of Nephi.

1:3 For he said that the history of his people should be engraven upon his other plates, and that I should
preserve these plates and hand them down unto my seed, from generation to generation.

1:4 And if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I
should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible,
for Christ's sake,
and for the sake of our people.

1:5 For because of faith and great anxiety, it truly had been made manifest unto us concerning our people,
what things should happen unto them.

1:6 And we also had many revelations, and the spirit of much prophecy; wherefore, we knew of Christ and his
kingdom, which should come.

1:7 Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and
partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest, lest by any means he should swear in his wrath they
should not enter in, as in the provocation in the days of temptation while the children of Israel were in the
wilderness.

1:8 Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all men not to rebel against God, to provoke him to
anger, but that all men would believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his cross and bear the shame of the
world; wherefore, I, Jacob, take it upon me to fulfil the commandment of my brother Nephi.

1:9 Now Nephi began to be old, and he saw that he must soon die; wherefore, he anointed a man to be a king
and a ruler over his people now, according to the reigns of the kings.

1:10 The people having loved Nephi
exceedingly, he having been a great protector for them, having wielded the
sword of Laban in their defence, and having labored in all his days for their welfare --

1:11 Wherefore, the people were desirous to retain in remembrance his name. And whoso should reign in his
stead were called by the people, second Nephi, third Nephi, and so forth, according to the reigns of the kings; and thus
they were called by the people, let them be of whatever name they would.

1:12And it came to pass that
Nephi died.

(1:12) Nephi died.

1:13 Now the people which were not Lamanites were Nephites; nevertheless, they were called Nephites,
Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites.

1:14 But I, Jacob, shall not hereafter distinguish them by these names, but I shall call them Lamanites that
seek to destroy the people of Nephi, and those who are friendly to Nephi I shall call Nephites, or the people of Nephi,
according to the reigns of the kings.

1:15 And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, under the reign
of the second king, began to grow
hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto David of
old desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son.

1:16 Yea, and they also began to search much gold and silver, and began to be lifted up somewhat in
pride.

1:17 Wherefore I, Jacob, gave unto them these words as I taught them in the temple, having first obtained
mine errand from the Lord.

1:18 For I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been consecrated priests and teachers of this people, by the
hand of Nephi.

1:19 And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of
the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with
our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we
would not be found spotless at the last day.